Charles IV and Prague – 700 years When all roads led to Prague Title: Charles IV and Prague – 700 years When all roads led to Prague Text: Prague City Tourism, Petr Kučera Photo: Prague City Tourism, Luděk Sládek Mapping: IPR Praha Graphic design and typesetting: Dynamo design s.r.o. Print: Agentura Bravissimo Total print run: 25,000 copies Prague 2016 Not For Sale Prague City Tourism Arbesovo nám. 70/4 / Prague 5 / 150 00 / CZ www.prague.eu www.charlesivinprague.com 1 Contents 2 Welcome to the Prague of Charles IV 4 The life of Charles IV in key dates 6 Notable events to mark 700 years since the birth of Charles IV 11 Prague Castle and surroundings 14 Map of the Centre of Prague 17 Prague’s bridge of Charles IV 19 The Old Town 23 The New Town and Vyšehrad Welcome to the Prague of Charles IV Welcome to the Prague of Charles IV safeguard Luxembourg interests. This also called on his military Welcome to the Prague know-how, swordsmanship and weapon-wielding, horse riding, and of Charles IV combat tactics. The charm and the magic of Prague might seem to a visitor as Diplomat and Emperor the cumulated works of chance, like a beautiful human face. That is not quite the case, however, and one could almost say Charles met with political acclaim especially after he became King of that Prague largely bears the hallmark of one man – the Czech the Romans. He was a constant reminder of the fact that diplomacy King and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, born in 1316. During and political negotiation were his strong suit. He almost incessantly his reign, Prague became the Imperial seat that the gazes of took a say in conflict situations, always with the overall aim to reach the whole of Europe were turned to. Get to know the wondrous a compromise, often with the help of matrimonial politics. legacy this exceptional personage of Czech and European history bequeathed to Prague – on the occasion of 700 years since his Life in Europe was influenced by many circumstances. Among the birth you have a unique opportunity to do so. most important was the move of the Papal seat from Rome to Avignon. That was not something Charles considered appropriate, and he made returning the Pope back to Rome one of his objectives. An educated European and a devout After all, he himself had in April 1355 gone to the ‘eternal city’ to Christian accept the Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire, which also formally made him the first among men of the then world. Charles IV (1316–1378), King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, was one of the greatest European statesmen. His remarkable Neither France, weakened by armed conflict with England, nor persona is a meld of seeming contradictions. This ambitious ruler, Spain, faced with its Reconquista, nor the weak for the time Grand excellent diplomat and patron of the arts was also a harshly Duchy of Moscow could pose a threat to Charles’ plans for the pragmatic realist. Yet he was a true European, at ease with German, Realm. Its stability was strengthened, inter alia, by the codification French and Italian culture, too. of Imperial rule in legal codex form, The Golden Bull of Charles IV. Likewise, he attended to economic prosperity, education and cultural A Přemyslid after his mother Elizabeth, a Luxembourg after his development. father John. The family roots of Charles IV reach to the beginnings of the Přemyslid dynasty in Bohemia, but also to the first French Charles IV laid down sound foundations for the common good of kings and even to Charlemagne at the head of the medieval Roman Europe and remains an inspirational figure to this day. Empire. Charles IV was born on 14 May 1316 in Prague. At that time, Europe was the centrepiece of the known world in the minds of Europeans, without any inkling of the existence of an American continent, and the most powerful country at the time was France. It was right there that Charles’ education began. He found himself at the French Royal Court, as ruled by Charles IV the Fair, “le Bel”. As his ward, he had his own teacher-guardians, opening before him a path to extensive education, as well as notable political and personal contacts. His friends included e.g. the future Pope Clement VI. Last but not least, Charles brought back with him from Paris his first wife, the much loved Blanche of the ascending royal line of Valois. His all-round preparation for life continued in Luxembourg, on the family earldom, where the adolescent heir to the throne was raised by his authoritarian great uncle Balduin Archbishop of Trier. Charles continued his studies in statecraft, added to his linguistic prowess, as well as becoming fully conversant with courtly etiquette and knightly virtues. In time, he was called over to Northern Italy by his father John, where in a setting rife with intrigue he was to help him 2 3 The life of Charles IV in key dates The life of Charles IV in key dates The life of Charles IV in key dates 1310 The Luxembourg dynasty ascends to the Czech throne 1342 Pierre Roger becomes the new Pope Clement VI Eliška Přemyslovna marries John of Luxembourg 1344 Prague bishopric elevated to an archbishopric 1311 John of Luxembourg’s coronation as Czech King 1344–1346 Political lobbying by the Luxembourgs to get Charles 14/5/1316 Birth of Charles IV the Holy Roman Crown 30/5/1316 Christened with the traditional name of Czech kings – 11/7/1346 Charles IV elected King of the Romans as Václav (Wenceslas) 26/11/1346 Coronation as King of the Romans in Bonn 1323 Sent off to be educated in France 2/9/1347 Coronation as King of Bohemia in Prague, the making 1323–1330 Residing at the French Royal Court, upon his of the St Wenceslas Crown, coronation ordinance confirmation took the name of his godfather, the written French King – Charles. Engagement and marriage to Blanche of Valois, a October 1347 Triumphal procession introducing Charles IV to the cousin of the French king realm 1330–1331 Residing and being raised in Luxembourg 8/3/1348 Prague New Town founded 1331 Called up to join his father in Northern Italy, to help 7/4/1348 The University (today’s Charles University) founded him create a Northern Italian power base for the March 1349 Widowed Charles IV marries Anne of Bavaria Luxembourgs Charles IV crushes opposition in the realm 1331–1333 Residing in Italy 25/7/1349 Coronation as King of the Romans in Aachen The attempted poisoning of Charles by the Visconti family of Milan 27/5/1353 Widowed a second time, Charles IV marries Anna of Charles’ first meeting with his younger brother John Schweidnitz Henry 6/1/1355 Lombardy coronation in Milano Charles appointed as representative of John of Luxembourg in Northern Italy 5/4/1355 Imperial coronation in Rome Charles founded the fortress of Montecarlo 1355–1356 Proclamation and adoption of the Roman codex 25/11/1332 Battle of San Felice, Charles knighted through the Imperial Golden Bull of Charles IV 1333 Settled in the Old Town of Prague 9/7/1357 Charles IV lays the foundation stone for the “stone bridge” (today‘s Charles Bridge) 1334 Charles receives from his father the title of Margrave of Moravia Charles is joined in Bohemia by his wife 26/2/1361 Nuremberg becomes the birthplace of his long- Blanche of Valois awaited son Wenceslas 1335 Luxembourg power struggle over the Tyrol with 21/5/1363 Marriage to Elizabeth of Pomerania in Krakow Emperor Louis IV of Bavaria May 1365 Visit to Avignon, in an effort to convince Pope 1337 Charles’ exploration through Hungary, Croatia and the Urban V to return to Rome Adriatic to Tyrol, the war in Lombardy 4/6/1365 Coronation in Arles 1337–1339 Altercation between Charles and John (son and 14/2/1368 Birth of Sigismund of Luxembourg father) on the question of the mandate of the Czech Kingdom, Charles’ attempt at tutelary rule in Tyrol to October 1368 Charles’ 2nd journey to Rome, the Pope’s support for help his brother John Henry his resettlement there 11/6/1341 The Czech Provincial Assembly accepts and confirms 1370 Brandenburg acquired Margrave Charles as the future Czech King 10/6/1376 Eldest son Wenceslas elected King of the Romans 1341 Despite Luxembourg efforts, John Henry loses Tyrol 1377–1378 Diplomatic mission to France and the legacy of Henry of Carinthia; Charles tried in 1347 to get Tyrol back again, but without success 29/11/1378 Death of Charles IV in Prague 4 5 Notable events to mark 700 years since the birth of Charles IV Notable events to mark 700 years since the birth of Charles IV One of the most important exhibits in the exhibition will be the Notable events to mark Crown with which Charles IV was crowned King of the Romans. This Crown will be on Czech territory for the first ever time. Also on their 700 years since the birth first ever outing from the St Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna are two sculptures of Rudolf IV of Habsburg and his wife, the daughter of of Charles IV Charles. Throughout 2016 Prague will host a number of interesting exhibitions, concerts, festivals and celebrations, thematically Exhibitions at Prague Castle connected with the life and times of Charles IV, the Czech King and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, born 700 years ago this The Sceptre and the Crown May.